Acts 11:1-18 Now the apostles and the brethren who were throughout Judea heard that the Gentiles also had received the word of God. Let me stop here for dramatic effect. Don't you think that John, James, Andrew--maybe not Thomas because he is a doubter--would all be thrilled that the gentiles were receiving Christ? We will … Continue reading The Reckoning; With Reason and Recapitulation
Month: November 2019
The Path of Peter to All Peoples; Part 3, No Partiality
Acts 10:23-48 And on the next day he [Peter] arose and went away with them [the servants of Cornelius] and some of the brethren from Joppa accompanied him. And on the following day he entered Caesarea. Now Cornelius was waiting for them, and had called together his relatives and close friends. And when it came … Continue reading The Path of Peter to All Peoples; Part 3, No Partiality
The Path of Peter to all Peoples; Part 2, The Prayer of Cornelius
Acts 10:1-23 Now there was a certain man at Caesarea named Cornelius, a centurion of what was called the Italian cohort, a devout man, and one who feared God with all his household, and gave many alms to the Jewish people, and prayed to God continually. About the ninth hour of the day he clearly … Continue reading The Path of Peter to all Peoples; Part 2, The Prayer of Cornelius
The Path of Peter to all Peoples; Part 1
Acts 9:32-43 Now it came about that as Peter was traveling through all those parts, he came down also to the saints who lived at Lydda. And there he found a certain man named Aeneas, who had been bedridden eight years, for he was paralyzed. And Peter said to him, “Aeneas, Jesus Christ heals you; … Continue reading The Path of Peter to all Peoples; Part 1
The Ebb And Flow
Acts 9:19-31 Now for several days he was with the disciples who were at Damascus, and immediately he began to proclaim Jesus in the synagogues, saying, “He is the Son of God.” And all those hearing him continued to be amazed, and were saying, “Is this not he who in Jerusalem destroyed those who called … Continue reading The Ebb And Flow
The Conversion, Rather Than Condemnation
Acts 9:1-19 Now Saul, still breathing threats and murder against the disciples of the Lord, went to the high priest, and asked for letters from him to the synagogues at Damascus, so that if he found any belonging to the Way, both men and women, he might bring them bound to Jerusalem. And it came … Continue reading The Conversion, Rather Than Condemnation
The Ethiopian Eunuch Baptized on a Desert Road
Acts 8:26-40 But an angel of the Lord spoke to Philip saying, “Arise and go south to the road that descends from Jerusalem to Gaza.” (This is a desert road.) And he arose and went; and behold, there was an Ethiopian eunuch, a court official of Candace, queen of the Ethiopians, who was in charge … Continue reading The Ethiopian Eunuch Baptized on a Desert Road
The Short Sight of Simon
Acts 8:14-24 Now when the apostles in Jerusalem heard that Samaria had received the word of God, they sent them Peter and John, who came down and prayed for them, that they might receive the Holy Spirit. For He had not yet fallen upon any of them; they had simply been baptized in the name … Continue reading The Short Sight of Simon
The Small Step Forward; Samaria
Acts 8:4-13 Therefore, those who had been scattered went about preaching the word. And Philip went down to the city of Samaria and began proclaiming Christ to them. And the multitudes with one accord were giving attention to what was said by Philip, as they heard and saw the signs which he was performing. For … Continue reading The Small Step Forward; Samaria
The Persecution Primer
Acts 8:1-3 And Saul was in hearty agreement with putting him to death. And on that day a great persecution arose against the church in Jerusalem; and they were all scattered throughout the regions of Judea and Samaria, except the apostles. And some devout men buried Stephen, and made loud lamentation over him. But Saul … Continue reading The Persecution Primer